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Secular Shu
These prayers demystify the Nichiren Shu practice.
See An Ultimate from Immanence for a philosophical explanation of the underlying teaching. See also a link to a Microsoft Word version of the following prayers for reconfiguration and placement in a typical Nichiren Shu Gongyo book: Secular Shu Special Prayer.doc.)
Introduction: Services in the Nichiren Shu tradition take on different forms, from simple to very ornate. Their rituals are performed at temples or in members’ homes. In homes, an area is set aside for an altar that features a calligraphic mandala or a statue of the Buddha. Unlike Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu honors Sakyamuni as the eternal Buddha and Nichiren Shonin as a bodhisattva. Ceremonies may include a combination of the following: reciting the opening prose section of the second chapter of the Lotus Sūtra, the verse section of the sixteenth chapter, the Expedients section of Chapter Two, the Triple World Parable in Chapter Three, and sections of Chapters Ten and Eleven, along with chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō. After these recitations, a special prayer is often read, usually out loud. The following is a special prayer to replace the traditional version:
With faith's highest virtue sourced in immanence, the ability to shape our lives in its likeness depends on sincere and thoughtful effort alone. This ceremony supports the effort.
Our sacred image has come to represent the conditional emergence of benevolence as gifted by time, process, and potential. Though relieved of its supernatural foundations, it continues to project an inherent pureness that can surpass and better both civil and religious authority, and encourage the pursuit of a more peaceful world.
The prayer hereby replaced recognized the eternal Buddha Sakyamuni, protective deities, and Nichiren Shonin's predicted appearance in the prophetic age of the Latter Day of the Law. It also paid homage to the spirits of the universe. For some, the transcendent elements of the prior prayer still resonate. For others, they are remnants of the past, especially now when there is a path forward without them.
To provide a grounded option for divine inspiration, the Lotus Sutra's revelation of an omniscient ever-presence was reinterpreted as a universal ethic venerating the temporal realm. The implications are liberating, for the ultimate insight is no longer limited to a mystical union subject to claims of sectarian custody, but observed firsthand in the natural order and open for emulation based on one's best judgment.
This practice merges the meaning of this prayer with the rhythm of a twice-daily recitation from the Lotus Sutra. And, while chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, it welcomes reflection on such matters as overcoming difficulties, personal growth, and the advancement of a common good. Our purpose is to carry on with a tradition long dedicated to cultivating a foremost blend of wisdom and compassion in all.
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The following two links are, first, to a copy of the traditional Nichiren Shu liturgy and, second, a picture of their image of reverence:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230607031613/https:/www.lionsroar.com/what-is-the-gohonzon/ (accessed February 10, 2024).
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